TCU Men's Hoops Survives Home Upset-Scare From UL-Monroe 100-92 in 2OT

After a relatively quiet yet successful start to the season, TCU stepped back onto the court of Schollmaier Arena on Tuesday aiming to get to 3-0 by defeating UL-Monroe.

While the Horned Frogs did eventually dispatch the Warhawks 100-92, it did not come without some drama and nerves for the hometown team.

READ MORE: TCU Could Host Highest-Ranked Opponent in 56 Years Against Utah

TCU had to wait until the end of double-overtime to finally breathe a sigh of relief and ensure the squad from the Sun Belt would not pull of a stunner.

From the opening tip, it became clear that UL-Monroe would not go quietly into the night in Fort Worth.

The Warhawks were able to keep the game tied or within striking distance for the majority of the first half until the Horned Frogs mounted a late run to take a 41-32 advantage to halftime.

In the second half, ULM refused to yield and actually fought even harder.

The cushion padded on by TCU shrunk nearly as fast as it was added and the Horned Frogs found themselves overwhelmed by the Warhawks in the final 20 minutes.

This onslaught put the Horned Frogs into two do-or-die situations late, as ULM somehow held two leads with under a minute to play.

Each time TCU was able to knot things back up and force the Warhawks to respond.

Following a 51-42 edge in the second frame, ULM forced the game into overtime tied at 83, despite the late heroics from TCU.

During the first overtime period, both teams found themselves unable to convert from the field and tacked on only an additional four points each to send the contest into a decisive second overtime at 87-87.

In the final frame, TCU was finally able to reignite its offensive spark that fizzled out past the first half. The Horned Frogs outscored the Warhawks 13-5 in the period to reach a final score of 100-92.

While any win is a good win, there were definitely issues to be addressed by head coach Jamie Dixon before TCU tips off another time this season.

Namely, shooting from the field was a serious concern for the Horned Frogs in an unimpressive 38 percent shooting performance.

It was even worse from beyond the arc, as TCU connected on only 30 percent of its 3-point tries.

Compare that to ULM, which boasted a staggering 52 percent clip from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range.

The Horned Frogs were also out-rebounded at a rate of 48-37 and beaten in the paint by a score of 40-34.

In the midst of the poor performances, junior guard Micah Robinson shined and willed his team to the win off the efforts of a 27-point showcase.

With all that went wrong, it is arguable that TCU finding a way to win is a testament to the talent that lies within its roster.

READ MORE: TCU Women's Basketball Chases 48th Straight Home Win Against Iona

However, many foes later this season, especially in the Big 12, will not be so easy to overcome when the Horned Frogs perform at a below-average pace.

Nonetheless, TCU has secured a 3-0 record and will try to shake off the lackluster outing by hosting Milwaukee on Friday night at 7 p.m. before taking on Texas A&M and No. 17 Miami.